All Things New
January 16, 2016
2 Corinthians 5:17 “What this means is that those who become Christians become new persons. They are not the same anymore, for the old life is gone. A new life has begun!”
One thing that sets Christians apart from others is that we are a people of hope. We look toward the future with a sense of expectation and anticipation. We not only believe that God’s grace is sufficient for our past, but it will be sufficient for our future as well. We believe the promise that the best is yet to come. We believe this because this promise is seen throughout scripture.
We see it in the Old Testament: The Psalmist sings a new song that the Lord has given him (Psalm 42:8); Isaiah writes of new things to be learned and a new name (Isaiah 42 and 62); Jeremiah preaches about a new covenant and new mercies that come every morning (Jeremiah 31:31 and Lamentations 3:22-23); and Ezekiel promises a new spirit and a new heart (Ezekiel 11:19 and 36:26).
The New Testament carries this same theme and promises: new birth (1 Peter 1:3); new life (Romans 6:23); new self (Ephesians 4:24); new attitude (Ephesians 4:23); new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17); and new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21:1).
So as we approach a new year, have faith and have hope in a God who makes all things new! The future is bright because our God is good!
One thing that sets Christians apart from others is that we are a people of hope. We look toward the future with a sense of expectation and anticipation. We not only believe that God’s grace is sufficient for our past, but it will be sufficient for our future as well. We believe the promise that the best is yet to come. We believe this because this promise is seen throughout scripture.
We see it in the Old Testament: The Psalmist sings a new song that the Lord has given him (Psalm 42:8); Isaiah writes of new things to be learned and a new name (Isaiah 42 and 62); Jeremiah preaches about a new covenant and new mercies that come every morning (Jeremiah 31:31 and Lamentations 3:22-23); and Ezekiel promises a new spirit and a new heart (Ezekiel 11:19 and 36:26).
The New Testament carries this same theme and promises: new birth (1 Peter 1:3); new life (Romans 6:23); new self (Ephesians 4:24); new attitude (Ephesians 4:23); new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17); and new heaven and new earth (Revelation 21:1).
So as we approach a new year, have faith and have hope in a God who makes all things new! The future is bright because our God is good!